As Woodward confirmed United would take a hit of more than £30million as the price of missing out on Champions League football for the first time since 1995-96, and that the pay-off to David Moyes had been less than £10m, the realities of a major club in the modern age were evidenced.

But the Old Trafford fans do not care about “record revenue” projections, “maturing” sponsorship markets or even Wayne Rooney’s new contract basic terms, still at £230,000 per week, plus a separate image-rights deal adding an extra 20 per cent or so.

They do care about ­performances on the pitch. About the fact United finished so far adrift of Manchester City and Liverpool they missed even a Europa League place.

Woodward’s transfer market failings last summer mean he will be under as much scrutiny as the new man at the helm. He knows he HAS to get it right.

The chief exec and Moyes share culpability for a flawed and haphazard scramble which left Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor operating with one hand tied behind his back.

“Are we assuming to go back into Europe?” Woodward ­rhetorically asked the Masters of the Financial Universe. “Clearly we are.

"The club’s expectations, and you will see this reflected in the transfer market, and what we have recently done from a ­managerial perspective, our aim ­absolutely is to get back into the Champions League.

“We estimate the impact of not qualifying for European football to be in the mid-30 millions of pounds.

“As you are aware we made a managerial change at the end of April. Following David Moyes’ departure, Ryan Giggs, the club’s most decorated player, assumed responsibility for the first-team as interim manager.

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Thanks, but no thanks: United don't want legend and caretaker boss Giggs as full-time manager

“We are grateful to Ryan for holding the reins during this period and the exemplary manner in which he conducted the role. We are now focused on bringing in a new manager who will help Manchester United return to the top of English football and challenge in Europe.

“We expect to make an announcement in due course. In the meantime we continue to be active in the transfer market.”

It was a statement of intent by a club executive who knows he has to beat that drum, especially when most of the news he is imparting is of the bad variety.

That included a wage-bill rise of 18.9 per cent before United have to start paying the “non-Champions League premium” the Moyes era will cost them.

Some may call it “burning money”. Not Woodward, who admitted: “It will be a year-on-year increase. We do expect there to be ­inflation in player wages, partly due to the market, and we are looking at investing in players this summer anyway. It will be high-teens, not mid-teens.

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“Recent news has indicated that UEFA is taking a strong line on clubs that breach FFP rules. We continue to support FFP and believe it will continue to control capex (capital expenditure) and player wage inflation.

“We also believe the quality of a club’s academy will be a key differentiator when FFP begins to take effect.

“We will be active in the transfer market and the window is upon us and deals are being done but not ‘been done’ in terms of the past tense. You will have to wait and see as we go through the window. We will assess how active we will be in September.”

Very active, it seems. But where seven signings were too many for Spurs to integrate last summer, Van Gaal knows he will get no wriggle room. It has to work out.

The Battle for Middle Earth Michael Carrick, World Cup snub notwithstanding, is far from a busted flush and can set the tempo, but alongside him United need someone who can carry the fight, pick a pass and add intensity, while also having the willingness to put his foot in. The key signing.

The heart of the Mata Juan Mata is a No.10, simple as. Do not ask him to play anywhere else, do not ask him to track back. It is not part of his game. If you are going to have Mata, he has to be the focal point of the side, the playmaker. Unless Van Gaal trusts him, he will have no future at the club.

Wide and early Sir Alex Ferguson’s best United sides killed opponents on the counter but also had the ability to make the game and force errors by sheer desire and determination. Pace out wide was crucial to that blueprint. Adnan Januzaj is part of the answer but a bird needs two wings to fly.